Accounting for Rising Corporate Profits: Intangibles or Regulatory Rents?

51 Pages Posted: 11 May 2016 Last revised: 10 Nov 2016

See all articles by James E. Bessen

James E. Bessen

Technology & Policy Research Initiative, BU School of Law

Date Written: November 9, 2016

Abstract

Since 1980, US corporate valuations have risen relative to assets and operating margins have grown. The possibility of sustained economic rents has raised concerns about economic dynamism and inequality. But rising profits could come from political rents or, instead, from returns to investments in intangibles. Using new data on Federal regulation and data on lobbying, campaign spending, R&D, and organizational capital, this paper finds that both intangibles and political factors account for a substantial part of the increase in profits, but since 2000 political factors are more important. A difference-in-differences analysis finds that major expansions of regulation increase profits significantly.

Keywords: Regulation, intangibles, economic rents

JEL Classification: D72, L1, E22

Suggested Citation

Bessen, James E., Accounting for Rising Corporate Profits: Intangibles or Regulatory Rents? (November 9, 2016). Boston Univ. School of Law, Law and Economics Research Paper No. 16-18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2778641 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2778641

James E. Bessen (Contact Author)

Technology & Policy Research Initiative, BU School of Law ( email )

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

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